Welding Fishing Tool for Retrieving Lodged Equipment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the oil and gas industry, removing equipment or 'fish' that becomes lost or lodged in wells is challenging due to non-uniform shapes and orientations, leading to inefficient and costly fishing operations, as conventional fishing tools struggle to engage and retrieve such items effectively.

Innovation Solution

A welding tool with a tubular body, battery housing, and electric line that generates heat to weld the fish to the tool, allowing for successful retrieval regardless of the fish's shape or orientation, utilizing a controller to activate the welding process via mud pulse signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fishing tools are used to retrieve fish, then the tools can engage with uniformly shaped fish, but they fail to engage with non-uniformly shaped or oriented fish effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to engage fish of various shapes and orientationsVSAvoidsuccess rate of fish retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The welding tool is designed to weld fish of any shape or orientation to the tool body, making it universally applicable to various fish configurations. The tool includes a tubular body with an open end that can accommodate fish in different orientations, and a welding element that can weld to the fish regardless of its shape, providing multi-functional engagement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces conventional mechanical engagement systems (latching, gripping) with a welding system. Instead of relying on mechanical interfaces that require specific geometries, the tool uses electric welding to create a metallurgical bond between the fish and the tool body, eliminating the need for precise mechanical alignment and shape matching.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple fishing attempts are made for non-uniform fish, then retrieval may eventually succeed, but rig time is lost and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuccess rate of fish retrievalVSAvoidrig time during fishing operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The welding tool performs preliminary positioning by orienting the tubular body to encompass the fish, then immediately executes the welding operation to secure engagement. This preliminary positioning followed by immediate welding eliminates the need for multiple adjustment attempts, saving rig time while ensuring reliable retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional fishing tools are used, then the tool structure remains simple, but the ability to retrieve non-uniform fish is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle non-uniform fishVSAvoidstructure of fishing tool

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The welding element and battery housing are nested within the tubular body. The electric line is coiled within the tubular body and physically contacts the welding element. This nested arrangement accommodates the complex welding system within a compact fishing tool structure, increasing adaptability without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The tool ensures engagement and removal of fish on the first attempt, saving rig time and reducing costs by providing a reliable method for retrieving non-uniformly shaped or oriented equipment, enhancing the efficiency of fishing operations.

Implementation Method 1

activating the electric line to generate heat which welds the fish to the welding element of the welding tool

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a battery housing, wherein the battery housing encloses a plurality of batteries which store energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBattery energy storage: Battery (electricity)

Implementation Method 3

the welding element disposed on an inner surface of the orifice... activating the electric line to generate heat which welds the fish to the welding element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Data Source

PatentUS12091925B2Fishing welding tool

Publication Date: 2024.09.17 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

A welding tool consisting of a tubular body having a lateral end and a pin end. The pin end has external threads disposed around an external circumferential surface of the pin end. The lateral end comprises an inner wall defining an orifice. Additionally, a heat proof shell is disposed circumferentially around the lateral end. The welding tool further includes a battery housing. The battery housing encloses a plurality of batteries which store energy. The welding tool further includes a welding element disposed on an inner surface of the orifice and an electric line. The electric line is coiled within the tubular body and physically contacts the welding element and is electrically connected to the plurality of batteries. The welding tool further includes a controller. The controller is capable of receiving and parsing mud pulse signals and controlling the release of stored energy from the batteries to the electric line.